Water conservation system for a photographic film processing device



Jan. 6, 1970 POWER SUPPLY WATER CONSERVATI ON SYSTEM FOR A PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM PROCESSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 20, 1967 W L. PENSGEN TINER PILOT 36 LAMP B A -o 3 MOTOR I CiD/NT.

I l I i l L.

CONTROL WATER SUPPLY FIG.3'

WALLACE L PENSGEN 1N VbNTOR.

BYJZQM ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. CI. 9589 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A water conservation system for use me photographic film processing device. The water conservation system is activated by a film sensing device which moves a valve in either of two positions. In the first position the valve supplies a minimum water flow to the wash chamber or cuts off the flow of Water entirely. In the second position the valve supplies a maximum flow of water in the wash chamber. The valve is moved to the second position when the film is sensed by the sensing device and is held in the second position fora predetermined time after the film is no longer sensed by the film sensing device to assure that the film is subjected to a maximum water flow while it is transported through the wash chamber. The film sensing device has a chamber connected to the Water supply. A pump is also connected to the chamber. The chamber has openings therein across which. the film passes as it is transported through the photographic film .pr0cessing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to photographic film processing, and more specifically to an improved photographic film processing device having means for conserving the water supply.

In prior know photographic film processing devices, maximum wash water flow is supplied to the wash chamber continuously throughout the processing cycle. Such cycle normally includes developing, fixing, washing and drying operations. In addition, maximum wash water flow is provided during stand-by periods, particularly in those processing installations in which the Wash water is used to maintain the developer and fixer solutions at a predetermined temperature. Accordingly, it is evident that a considerable quantity of wash water is used in the aforementioned processing devices over and above that required to wash the processed film. The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the Wasting of wash water that has occurred heretofore.

It is generally well known in the art to provide ap paratus such as motion picture projectors and tape recorders capable of sensing the presence or absence of a film or web of material, and in response thereto to actuate film reversing control mechanisms. However, applicant is unaware of any film sensing mechanisms incorporated in photographic processing devices for conserving wash water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention includes withirl its scope'an improvet. photographic processing device having a film material sensing mechanism for detecting the presence of a photographic film material in sheet or web form as it is transported through the processing device, and in response thereto actuating control mechanism to provide maximum water flow to the wash chamber, such maximum wash water flow being automatically reduced to a minimum water flow or cut otf entirely after the trailing end of the material leaves the wash chamber.

3,487,763 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 More specifically, when a photographic material is introduced into a processing device of a width capable of covering one or more openings in a chamber, a negative pressure is generated therein for operating a switch connecting the power supply to a solenoid controlling a water valve. Energization of the solenoid opens the water valve causing a water source under pressure to direct a maximum flow of wash water against the material through a plurality of nozzles. When the trailing end of the material uncovers the openings in the chamber, the negative pressure is reduced and the switch is returned to its normal position; however, the solenoid is still energized for a predetermined period of time depending upon a resistance-capacitor setting of a timer to maintain maximum water flow until the material passes completely through the Wash chamber. The time delay is electrically interconnected with a film speed potentiometer of a film drive motor control, and the two are calibrated so that as the trailing end of the material leaves the wash chamber, the solenoid is de-energized causing the valve to return by known means to its normal position reducing the flow of wash water to a minimum, or cutting it oit entirely.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved processing apparatus having a water conservation system for providing maximum wash water flow during at least a portion of the time that a film is being processed, and for cutting off the water flow entirely or reducing it to a minimum water flow during the remainder of the processing cycle and during stand-by periods.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a photographic processing device showing the developing, fixing, washing and drying chambers thereof;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view partially in perspective and partially in block diagram form showing a wash water conservation system for a processing device of the type disclosed in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an electrical wiring diagram for the processing device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, this invention is embodied in a processing device 10 of known type having developing, fixing, washing and drying chambers 12, 14, 16 and 18 respectively. The processing device has a photographic film material sensing mechanism comprising a film feed table 20 over which the film 22 in sheet or web form is transported into the processing device 10. The film feed table 20 has a recess extending laterally thereof as shown dotte'd in FIG. 2 to form a chamber 24, and a plurality of small spaced openings 26 extend from the top of table 20into chamber 24. Although chamber 24 is shown integral with table 20, it may be a separate unit secured to table 20 or to any other portion of the processing device 10 provided it is positioned so that film 22 is transported over it in passing to the wash chamber. The film sensing mechanism may also be provided in other forms, not shown, such as opposed film transport rollers, one of which is movable relative to the other when a film is in troduced therebetween for operating a switch, The switch, in turn, may control the operation of other mechanisms such as a solenoid for controlling the wash water flow.

The film sensing mechanism of this invention has a conduit 28, one end of which is connected to the bottom of chamber 24, and the other end thereof connected to a pump 30 for drawing air through openings 26 and chamber 24. The conduit 28 is provided with a negative pressure adjustment bleed valve 32 for controlling the amount of negative pressure developed in the conduit 28 and chamber 24. A pressure actuated switch 34 of known type is connected to conduit 28, and may be adjusted so that it will be operated by a predetermined value of negative pressure generated by a film 22 covering one or more openings 26 in chamber 24. The switch 34 is connected through a commercially available time delay relay mechanism referred to in the drawing as a timer 36 involving a resistance-capacitor network of known type for controlling a switch 38 (see FIG. 3) which is in series with a solenoid 40. The solenoid 40 controls a valve 42 in a water supply conduit 44 for controlling the wash Water supplied to a plurality of spray rinse nozzles 46, only one of which is shown in FIG. 2, for directing wash Water against film 22. The valve 42 is movable upon energization of solenoid 40 from a normal first position, in which a minimum water flow is achieved or the water flow is cut ofi entirely, to a second position for achieving maximum water flow. Normally, switch 34 is in a first position A as seen in FIG. 3 supplying power to timer 36 and energizing a relay in the timer, not shown, which holds switch 38 in an open position. When switch 34 is operated by a predetermined amount of negative pressure, it is moved to a second position B causing a pilot lamp 45 to light up indicating that maximum water flow is being provided to the washing chamber, and de-energizing the timer relay causing switch 38 to close. This provides power to solenoid 40 which is energized, moving valve 42 to its aforementioned second or maximum water flow position. When the film 22 uncovers openings 26, the negative pressure is reduced causing switch 34 to return to its normal first position A. This resupplies power to timer 36; however, the timer relay will not be energized until a capacitor associated therewith, not shown, is charged up to a sufiicient voltage to energize the timer relay. The time delay for energization of the timer relay is controlled by a variable time delay resistor 48, which is, in turn, coupled to a film speed potentiometer 50 of any suitable film drive motor control 52, The film speed potentiometer 50 controls the speed at which the film is transported, normally by pairs of opposed rollers, through the processor 10, and this motor control may in combination with time delay resistor 48 automatically adjust the time delay to correspond to the speed of film transport.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to one embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove, and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a photographic processing device or the like having a water conservation system, the combination comprising:

means for transporting a photographic film material through the processing device for processing; a wash chamber in which a film transported therethrough by said transporting means is washed;

means movable between a normal first position for supplying a minimum water flow to said wash chamber or cutting off the water flow entirely, and a second position for supplying a maximum water flow to said wash chamber;

means for sensing a film transported through said processor; said water supplying means being responsive to said film sensing means only when it senses said film for movement to its second position for supplyin said maximum water flow to said wash chamber; and

means for retaining said water supplying means in said second position for a predetermined time after said film is no longer sensed by said film sensing means to assure that said film is subjected to maximum water flow while it is transported through said wash chamber.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said film sensing means comprises a chamber connected to said water supplying means, said chamber having openings therein across which the film passes as it is introduced into said processing device, and a pump connected to said chamber.

3. In a photographic processing device or the like having a water conservation system, the combination comprising:

means for transporting a photographic film. material through the processing device for processing;

means for sensing a film as it is transported through the processing device; a wash chamber in which the film transported therethrough by said transporting means is washed;

means for supplying water to said wash chamber for washing the film and including a part movable between a normal first position in which a minimum water flow is supplied to said wash chamber or the Water flow is cut oif entirely, and a second position in which a maximum water flow is supplied to said wash chamber;

said water supplying means being responsive to said film sensing means only when it senses the film for movement of said part to said second position; and means for retaining said movable part of said water supplying means in said second position for a predetermined time after the film is sensed by said film sensing means to assure that the film is subjected to maximum water flow while transported through said wash chamber, said movable part then returning to its normal first position.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises a time delay mechanism.

5. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said film sensing means comprises a chamber operatively connected to said water supplying means, said chamber having openings therein across which the film passes as it is transported through the processing device, and a pump connected to said chamber.

6. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said movable part of said Water supplying means comprises a valve, said water supplying means further comprising a solenoid for moving said valve to its second position when energized, and a switch responsive to a predetermined negative pressure for energizing said solenoid, and said film sensing means comprises a chamber having openings therein across which the film is transported in the processing device, said chamber being connected to said switch, and a pump connected to said chamber for producing said predetermined negative pressure when the film covers said openings.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said rctaining means comprises a time delay mechanism.

8. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said movable part of said water supplying means comprises a valve, said water supplying means further comprising a solenoid for moving said valve to its second position i when energized, and said retaining means comprises a time delay mechanism for retaining said solenoid energized for said predetermined time.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,157,103 11/1964 Lowry et a1 -89 3,334,566 8/ 1967 Friedel 9589 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner ROBERT P. GREINER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl, 95-94 

